BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Indiana officials are proposing additional logging
in two state forests near Bloomington that could result in the cutting down
of some 1,500 trees.

Environmentalists oppose the plan for logging within the 2,700-acre back
country areas of the Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood state forests, The
Herald-Times reported.

The state designated the back country areas in 1981 to protect those forests
from development. Hoosier Forest Watch spokesman Myke Luurtsema said the
group believed those sections should remain untouched.

“This wild forest is arguably more unique and valuable to Hoosiers in its
un-logged condition today than it was in 1981,” Luurtsema said.

The Department of Natural Resources’ public comment period on the proposal
ends Wednesday.

The agency has proposed allowing logging on a 129-acre tract in the
Morgan-Monroe forest, with 20 acres within that area remaining untouched,
DNR spokesman Phil Bloom said.

Luurtsema objected to some trees in the forests already having been marked
with blue paint for cutting.

Bloom said the marking is done ahead of time so that if permission is
granted, tree cutting can begin immediately.

“Our folks have a narrow window of time to work in, so marking does not
necessarily mean cutting,” he said.